Oddsmakers like the Bengals by about a field goal, coming off their near-upset of the Giants last Sunday.

Defense needed to lift the Browns while the offense slogged through a continuity quagmire. New linemen Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams haven’t made that much of a difference.

Coordinator Todd Grantham was fired after his 2007 defense allowed 351.3 yards a game. His replacement, Mel Tucker, has that figure at 347.0 after three games, and now he draws his first assignment against Carson Palmer.

In the Bengals’ 51-45 loss at Cleveland last September, Palmer passed for 401 yards (biggest game in the AFC in 2007) and six touchdowns.

Baltimore center Jason Brown came away from last Sunday’s game with this idea of what Cleveland’s defensive mindset is: “They’re big up front, so they’re gonna try to lean on you hard and try to pound your running game.”

It isn’t working. Compare what the Browns are allowing on the ground (145 yards a game) to Pittsburgh (64.3) and Baltimore (71.5).

The Browns led the Ravens 10-7 at halftime.

“I felt like we were the better team, starting out,” said linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, the Browns’ No. 1 tackler. “We had a little momentum going, but coming out in the second half ... I don’t know what happened.”

Two quick Anderson interceptions handed the Ravens two touchdowns. The good news for the Browns: The Bengals have the worst defense Anderson has faced to date in ‘08.

Cincinnati’s run defense has allowed 174.3 yards a game -- only the Chiefs run defense is worse.

Given the Browns’ depleted receiver corps and the fact Jamal Lewis ran wild on the Bengals last September (216 yards) -- and Lewis’ justified grousing about too few carries at Baltimore -- it will be a shock if No. 31 doesn’t get the rock. A lot.

Of course, everyone will be watching to see if Anderson hands off to Quinn.

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